Surfboard



P. EDWARD S SURFBOARD Oct. 4, 1966 Filed March 7, 1966 PH/L lP EDI/WOR1' N VEA' TOR ,4 r Tolz/dE VS BY 5M 5 United States Patent 3,276,050SURFBOARD Philip Edwards, Dana Point, Calif, assignor to Hobart L.Alter, Dana Point, Calif. Filed Mar. '7, 1966, Ser. No. 534,964 4Claims. (Cl. 9-310) The invention relates to surfboards and hasparticular reference to a buoyant type board used by surfriders whenriding the downhill slope of a wave after it crests and starts movingtoward the beach.

As surfboards have become popular, the sport has invited sundryrefinements in board construction. A currently popular type of board isone constructed primarily of some appropriate relatively light weightbuoyant material such as sty-rofoarn, reinforced by one or morelongitudinal ribs and ultimately covered with fiberglass reinforcedresin before being sanded smooth and finished. The usual board isfinished relatively smooth, carries a steering fin on the underside ofthe stern, and has amply rounded lateral edges. The board may bedescribed as a hull, to contrast it with the construction of a boat, andthe bottom of the hull is rounded in two directions, namely from oneside to the other and from bow to stern, the theory being one similar tothe design of displacement hulls for a boat having in mind that when therider is supported by the board and traveling the down slope of a wavethe board will progress through the water under the impetus of gravityacting upon the board and the rider much as a boat progresses throughthe water.

The top side of the board is relatively flat so that the rider canbalance himself in different positions between the fore and aft enddepending upon the stage of the ride and the skill of the rider.Usually, after the rider has caught" the wave while either seated orlying prone upon the board, he will rise to his knees and then stand,preferably near the rear of the board at the start of the run wherebyshifting his weight from one side to the other the board can be steeredand manipulated into the right direction and right position. Followingthis initial steering maneuver, the rider can then advance forward onthe board and manipulate it in different fashions depending upon variousfactors, including the direction and speed of the wave and theparticular maneuver which the rider wishes to execute.

Sometimes in contests riders will ride in a more diflicult position upona board, one of the more difiicult positions being near the nose of theboard. When the rider is on the nose of the board the steering portionof the board tends to become lifted, lifting the steering fin to adegree and the displacement of the hull is changed appreciably, as isalso the speed, and hence nose rides as a rule are of short duration.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improvedsurfboard which in certain attitudes makes of the surfboard a planinghull as contrasted with a displacement hull.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedsurfboard capable of being manipulated at an appreciably faster speedwithout the need for varying in any appreciable degree the customaryover-all proportions and weight of a surfboard.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedsurfboard wherein the bottom is of such design that at certain stages oftravel the board may be ridden closer to the nose than is possible withboards of the construction heretofore available.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedsurfboard having a bottom of such design that when ridden on the nosethe board is capable of picking up speed .at a very marked rate ofincrease.

Still further among the objects of the invention is to provide a new andimproved surfboard of substantially conventional length, breadth,weight, and fore and aft camber which can be ridden as a planing boardby the operator.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of thedevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafterset forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the surfboard taken on theline 11 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of the surfborad taken on the line 2 -2 ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 55 of FIGURE 2.

In an embodiment of the present invention chosen for the purpose ofillustration there is shown a surf riding board, commonly termed asurfboard, indicated generally by the reference character 10, the hullof which is a single piece of preferably inherently buoyant materialsuch for example as Styrofoam, having a deck 11, a bottom 12, astarboard lateral side 13, and a port lateral side 14. A bow 15 isindicated at the forward end and a stern 16 indicated at the aft end. Asteering fin 17 is shown at the aft end located on a bottom fore and aftmidline 18.

The deck 11 is relatively fiat from one lateral side to the other sothat the rider can stand on it comfortably with bare feet. In theinterest of streamlining the surfboard, however, both lateral sides areamply rounded for a substantial distance inwardly toward the centertothe extent that the flatness of the central portion of the deck givesway to a general arcuate shape as it approachces the lateral sides.

At about a center point 19 between fore and aft ends the surfboard is atits maximum thickness and this maximum thickness is maintained for asubstantial distance both fore and aft of the center point. Thethickness, however, diminishes progressively toward the aft end to theextent that the surboard becomes relatively thin about at the area ofattachment of the steering fin 17. The surfboard also becomesprogressively thinner toward the forward end but the thickness at theforward end is not necessarily the same thickness as at the aft end.

It is further significant to note that along the bottom fore and aftmidline 18 the board has what may be described as a camber, that is tosay a somewhat bowed effect to the extent that forward and aft ends ofthe midline are tilted upwardly. Also along a deck side fore and aftmidline 20 there is what may be described as a reverse camber, thelowermost portion of which is in the area of a center point 19 with bothfore and aft ends tilted upwardly. The camber of course may varyappreciably but will usually be in the neighborhood of about 4 inch to 1inch for the over-all length of the surboard which is as a rule about 9feet.

In the form of invention here under consideration there is provided Whatmay be described as a patch 25 on the bottom 12 of the surfboard. Thepatch may take various forms but, generally speaking, the area occupiedby the patch should begin near the center point 19 and extend forwardalmost to the forward end 15 or as near the forward end as structurepermits, taking into consideration that there must be an appreciablethickness along the midline for both rigidity, buoyancy and strength.Although the rear end of the patch may be forward of the center point,good practice suggests that for a nine foot board the rearward end 26 ofthe patch be about 5 feet from the forward end 15. Also, at this point,as shown clearly in FIGURE 3, the bottom 12 will be substantially fiatfrom one lateral side to the other. Rearward of the rearward end 26ofthe patch the bottom 12 is curved in the usual fashion, that is to say,curved transversely from the lateral sides downwardly toward the bottomfore and aft midline and also curved longitudinally toward the aft endas clearly shown in FIGURE 1. Curved as described, the surfboard ismaneuverable from the stem at the be ginning of a ride.

Attention is directed to a forward section 27 of the bottom fore and aftmidline. This forward section 27 is substantially a straight line fromthe rearward end 26 of the patch 25 to a forward end 28. For a boardabout twenty to twenty two inches wide it is good practice to have thepatch small enough to leave a margin 31 of two to three inchces betweenitself and the edge of the board. In the embodiment shown, the patch 25along the forward section 27 is dished upwardly from opposite starboardand port perimeters 20 and 30. Fashioned in this way, the forwardsection 27 which is the longitudinal center line of the patch will be ata lesser depth below the deck fore and aft midline 20 then are thedepths of the starboard and port perimetral portions.

Constructed as described the patch 25 takes a form generally asindicated in FIGURE 2. The precise form of the patch is not of materialimportance because the form will be determined to a large degree by theinitial curvature of the bottom 12. A planing type surfboard may also bemade by having the patch 25 substantially fiat from side to side as wellas from fore to aft ends where there is not an appreciable sacrifice inthe thickness of the board, thereby to detract from needed buoyancy.

In the form shown the starboard and port perimeters 0 curveprogressively outwardly from the rearward end 26 and then progressivelyinwardly approaching the forward end 28. Accordingly, at what may bedescribed as the midsection of the surfboard, namely a section a foot ortwo on opposite sides of the center point 19, the patch is relativelyfiat and of appreciable width. The patch continues as one of appreciablewidth forward of the midsection and then may diminish in width at theforward end, as the board narrows. The portion of the board well forwardof the midsection is the part of the board commonly designated as thenose section.

The section aft of the midsection, which may be termed the sternsection, is the part of the board used for balancing and manipulatingand is curved on the bottom as described so that when tilted toward oneside or the other it will be stable, much as a hull of a sailboat isstable when it heels over toward one side or the other as dictated bythe direction of the wind.

With a patch constructed in one or another of the forms herein suggestedor perhaps a form somewhat intermediate that of a purely flat sectionand that of an amply dished section, the board, when ridden down theslope of a wave, will tend to pick up speed appreciably as the ridersteps forward and at a location above the patch. At this stage of theride the surfboard may be said to be converted from a displacement hullto a planing hull, the planing being assisted by flow of water upwardlyagainst the patch due to the tilt of the board, the slope of the wave,and the momentum previously attained. The surfboard may, therefore, notonly be ridden more effectively on the nose but can also be ridden at amuch greater speed than has heretofore been possible.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices.

Having described the invention, What is claimed as new in support ofLetters Patent is:

1. A surf riding board having a deck, a bottom and lateral sides, saiddeck at both a nose section forward of a midsection and at a sternsection aft of said midsection having a balancing area between saidlateral sides, said board being of maximum thickness about at themidsection and having a progressively diminishing. thickness from saidmidsection toward the ends, said bottom forward of said midsectionhaving a nose supporting patch comprising a center line along a forwardsection of the bottom fore and aft midline which is substantiallystraight from end to end, portions of said patch on opposite sides ofsaid center line having opposite starboard and port perimeters extendingprogressively outwardly and then inwardly from fore end toward themidsection, said opposite perimeters having a depth below a deck sidefore and aft midline not less than the depth of said center line belowsaid deck side fore and aft midline, said portions comprising areaswithin said perirneters respectively which are relatively straight in afore and aft direction and which are tilted at an angle upward withrespect to the remainder of said bottom aft of said midsection.

2. A surf riding board having a deck, a bottom and lateral sides, saidboard being of maximum breadth at about the midsection between fore andaft ends and having a steering fin at the aft end along a bottom foreand aft midline, said deck at both a nose section forward of saidmidsection and at a stern section aft of said midsection having abalancing area between said lateral sides, said board being of maximumthickness at the midsection and having a progressively diminishingthickness from said midsection toward the ends, the bottom aft of saidmidsection having a slope progressively approaching the deck from themidsection toward the aft end and curved transversely from said lateralsides downwardly toward the bottom fore and aft midline, said bottomforward of said midsection having a nose supporting patch comprising asubstantially straight center line along a forward section of the bottomfore and aft midline, opposite ends of said center line being coincidentwith and substantially tangent to said bottom, and substantiallystraight between said ends, said portions of patch on opposite sides ofsaid forward section having opposite starboard and port perimetersextending from the fore end progressively outwardly and then inwardlytoward the midsection, said opposite starboard and port perimetershaving a depth below a deck side fore and aft midline not less than thedepth of said center line below the deck side fore and aft midline, saidportions on opposite sides of said center line and within saidperimeters respectively being relatively straight in a fore and aftdirection and tilted at an angle upward with respect to the remainder ofsaid bottom aft of said midsection.

3. A surf riding board having a deck, a bottom and lateral sides, and asteering fin at the aft end along a bottom fore and aft midline, thedeck of said board having a fore and aft reverse camber along a deckside fore and aft midline, said deck at both a nose section at theforward end and at a stern section at the aft end having a balancingarea between said lateral sides, said board having a progressivelydiminishing depth from about the midsection toward the ends, the bottomaft of said midsection being tilted longitudinally upwardly, said bottomforward of said midsection having a direction progressively approachingthe deck and having a nose supporting patch comprising a substantiallystraight center line along a forward section of the bottom fore and aftmidline, portions of said patch on opposite sides of said center linehaving opposite starboard and port perimeters extending progressivelyfrom a fore end outwardly and then inwardly toward said midsection, saidopposite perimeters having a depth below a deck side fore and aftmidline greater than the depth of said straight center line below thedeck side fore and aft mid linewhereby said portions form a slightupward depression throughout the length of the nose supporting patchalong said straight center line.

4. A surf riding board of inherently buoyant material having a deck, abottom and lateral sides, said board being of maximum breadth at about amidsection between fore and aft ends and having a steering fin at theaft end along a bottom fore and aft midline, the deck of said boardhaving a fore and aft reverse chamber along a deck side fore and aftmidline of from about A inch to about one inch downwardly from the foreand aft ends toward the midsection, said deck at both a nose sectionforward of said midsection and at a stern section aft of said midsectionbeing relatively fiat from one lateral side to the other, said boardbeing of maximum thickness at the midsection and having a progressivelydiminishing thickness from said midsection toward the ends, said bottomaft of said midsection being curved longitudinally from the midsectiontoward the aft end and curved transversely from said lateral sidesdownwardly toward the bottom fore and aft midline, said bottom forwardof said midsection having a nose supporting patch comprising asubstantially straight center line along a forward part of the bottomfore and aft midline extending from said midsection to a location nearthe forward end, said straight center line having ends terminating atand substantially tangent to respective portions of said bottom,portions of said patch on opposite sides of said straight center linehaving opposite starboard and port perimeters curved progressivelyoutwardly from the fore end and then inwardly toward the midsection,said opposite starboard and port perimeters having a depth below thedeck side fore and aft midline greater than the depth of said straightcenter line below the deck side fore and aft midline, said portionsforming a slight upward depression in the nose supporting patch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,389,729 11/1945Howland 93l0 3,027,575 4/ 1962 Fortin 9-3 10 3,173,161 3/1964 Amsbry931O MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

A. E. CORRIGAN, Assistant Examiner.

3. A SURF RIDING BOARD HAVING A DECK, A BOTTOM AND LATERAL SIDES, AND ASTEERING FIN AT THE AFT END ALONG A BOTTOM FORE AND AFT MIDLINE, THEDECK OF SAID BOARD HAVING A FORE AND AFT REVERSE CAMBER ALONG A DECKSIDE FORE AND AFT MIDLINE, SAID DECK AT BOTH A NOSE SECTION AT THEFORWARD END AND AT A STERN SECTION AT THE AFT END HAVING A BALANCINGAREA BETWEEN SAID LATERAL SIDES, SAID BOARD HAVING A PROGRESSIVELYDIMINISHING DEPTH FROM ABOUT THE MIDSECTION TOWARD THE ENDS, THE BOTTOMAFT OF SAID MIDSECTION BEING TILTED LONGITUDINALLY UPWARDLY, SAID BOTTOMFORWARD OF SAID MIDSECTION HAVING A DIRECTION PROGRESSIVELY APPROACHINGTHE DECK AND HAVING A NOSE SUPPORTING PATCH COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLYSTRAIGHT CENTER LINE ALONG A FORWARD SECTION OF THE BOTTOM FORE AND AFTMIDLINE, PORTIONS OF SAID PATCH ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CENTER LINEHAVING OPPOSITE STARBOARD AND PORT PERIMETERS EXTENDING PROGRESSIVELYFROM A FORE END OUTWARDLY AND THEN INWARDLY TOWARD SAID MIDSECTION, SAIDOPPOSITE PERIMETERS HAVING A DEPTH BELOW A DECK SIDE FORE AND AFTMIDLINE GREATER THAN THE DEPTH OF SAID STRAIGHT CENTER LINE BELOW THEDECK SIDE FORE AND AFT MIDLINE WHEREBY SAID PORTIONS FORM A SLIGHTUPWARD DEPRESSION THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE NOSE SUPPORTING PATCHALONG SAID STRAIGHT CENTER LINE.